Holder for knives, forks, spoons, and the like



Apnl 20,1948. T. B. OWENS 2,440,207

AHOLDER FOR KNIVES, FORKS, SPOONS, AND THE LIKE ArroRNE April 20, 1948. A T. B. owENs 2,440,207

HOLDER FOR KNIVES, FORKS, SPOONS, AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 1, i945 2 sheet-sneet v:e

FX 51E 7 INVENTOR. TH OMHJ" B.OWENS Patented Apr. 20, 1948 HOLDER Fon`- KNIVES; FORKS, srooNs,. AND THE LIKE Thomas B; Owens, Cleveland; Ohio` Application'November 1, 1945, 'serial No; `6263183] (C1. zoen-72) The'invention relates to-holders for knives, forks, spoons, and the like, and particularly t improvements in articles of this character which are built-up structures easily assembled from a few plane members. More particularly, the improvements relate to an `article of the character mentioned in which a few cheaply fabricated parts are easily assembled into a rigid structure without the necessity for the use of usual fastenings, such as nails andscrews. l

The annexed drawings and the following description present in detail certain means illustrating the improvements in holders for knives, forks, spoons, and the like, such :disclosed means presenting, however,- only one :of the various forms in which the improvements may be embodied.

In said annexed drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan of the built-up structure; Figure 2 is a plan in disassembled condition of the three forms of elements which enter into the complete holder;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the holder shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a longitudinalsection, taken in the plane indicated bythe line dfi, Figures 1 and 5;

Figure 5 is a front elevation;

Figure 6 is a transverse section taken in the` place indicated by the lineA 66, Figures 1 and 4, and

Figure 7 is a rear elevation.

Referring to the annexed drawings in which the same elements are indicated bythe same respective numbers in the several. views, the improved'holder, Figure l, is mad'efrom threev dif"-V ferent kinds of` elements' shownV in Figure 2, viz., a platf'orm'or base I ,"a plurality of wings and partition pieces 3, anda' headiorfront endlpi'ec'e 'I. These several elements are formed with complementary slots, and grooved, and notched or rabbeted portions whereby they can be assembled in interlocked condition to form the complete holder. The elements I, 3, and 'I are preferably formed of plywood and are plain surfaced members.

Intersecting the front end of the platform I is a transverse series of spaced longitudinal slots 2'. Intersecting the rear end of each of the partitien and wing members 3 is a slot 4. The number of wing and partition pieces 3 utilized is equal te the number of slots 2 formed in the platform l. The head or front end piece l, which is of substantially the same length as the width-of the platform l, is Aintersected at its bottom edge by a plurality yof slots I which are equal in number to the slots 2 and to the number of partitions and transversely aligned lgrooves I Idaptd to accommodate the V"frdnt edge j I-'3iof the platform I. 'These grooves" I I ted between respectivaadjacent -slcts Il) and tlie two endgroovesv I I Yextend respectivelyv fo'mft'he outer' slts I 0 through the endfedg'es'of the-'headpice-", VThelfront ends -of the wing and" partitinpices- "3A haveflwer forwardly directd'ex'tensions 8 having upper'outer shoulder parts 8 thsfrmingfnotches 9 substantially vertically Centrale? the height ofthe Vpieces 3 and exteriorly adjacent the mainbody portions of*V these pieces 3.

The platform I and" the part'ition and wing members are of substantiallyfthe same length andthe slots l? a-remat'eria-lly shorter in length than the slots "2. 'Ilfie-`sv`u`inrbfrA the lengths offtwo cooperating slots 2fan`d 4 isless thanthe length ef theV platformA I or-the partition andw-ing members`3. l i

The several elements f ormed' as above.described are lassembled into the built-up` holder' structure. by passing the Wingandpartiti-on members 3 into the platform'l by means of theslots' 2 and 4 until theV inner' endsL 6 f 'the slots lIl" nearly reach the inner ends "5 of"the"slotsj'2',A and then the head#- piece I is mounted on the f'r'ont ends' of: the lWing and 'partition' members? bypassing the headpiecje I down over the -wing-"and partition extensions A8 uritilltheinner'walls I2 ofthe slots Il)v rest on the lowerwalls of the notch'esS; The latter `operation bringsv the grooves" I I in alignment `with the* front edge I3 :othe platfcrml, this edgel3 ofthe platform' I having aj 'sliding t Withthe grooves IVI. These' operationsieffectaj substantial assembly `of the different'elements'and then'all that' is necessary to lock them securely together is to apply pressure to the front face of the front piece 'I which forces the wing and partition pieces G rearwardly into their nal and xed position with the walls 5 of the slots 4 closely in contact with the Walls 5 of the slots 2, and at the same time forces the edge I3 of the platform I tightly into the grooves II.

As is clearly apparent in Figures 3 and 4, the platform or bottom member I is preferably sloped toward the front when in assembled condition. Such assembly has the advantage of preventing the utensils contained in the several chambers formed between the member 3 from spilling or sliding out of the chambers.

Although a tight `and secure assembly of the several elements into a holder requires no fastenings, such as nails or screws, it is preferable that glue or other suitable adhesive I6, Figure 4, be applied to the grooves Il, and that adhesive I5 be applied to the walls of the notches 9 before the head member 'I is assembled. It is also preferable that the Wing and partition member 3 be formed with a series of transverse holes I1, Figure 2, such as would accommodate adhesive I8, Figure 3, the positioning of these holes I'I being such that when the partitions 4and wings 3 Iare in their final locked position the holes I'I and the adhesive I8 therein will be within the confines of the slots 2, i. e., the holes I'I and the adhesive I8 are adjacent the side walls of the slots 2. Y

The improved holder with its contained utensils'is designed for storage, when not in use, in any convenient place, such as the drawer of a w'all or kitchen cabinet, and to that end is de- U signed for ready and convenient handling as a whole, so that it is formed with a finger hole I4 in the head board I which, with a manual gripping of the rear end of the platform I, provides for convenient manipulation.

What I claim is:

1. A holder for knives, forks, spoons, and the like comprising a built-up structure having a platform formed with spaced slots intersecting an end thereof, a transverse series of spaced longitudinal members forming partitions and side walls and each having a slot intersecting an end thereof and registering with a platform slot so that the platform and the members are interlocked to form a plurality of chambers with the ends of the members'opposite their slotted ends extending outwardly of the slotted end of the platform, the extending member portions being notched, and a transverse end board having a transverse series of spaced slots accommodating the extended member ends and a series of transversely aligned grooves accommodating the slotted end of the platform, the wall portions of the end board slots being interlocked with the notches of the extended member portions. f

2.. A holder for knives, forks, spoons, and the like, characterized as in claim l, in which the axes of the platform slots and the axes of the slots of the transverse series of members are relatively Iangular to effect the sloping of the platform toward the end board.

3. A holder for knives, forks, spoons, and the like characterized as in claim l, in which there is adhesive in the notches of the extended portions of the transverse series of members and in the transversely aligned grooves of the end board.

4. A holder for knives, forks, spoons, and the like, characterized as in claim 1, in which there is adhesive in the notches of the extended portions of the transverse series of member and in the transversely aligned grooves of the end board, and in which the transverse series of members are formed with holes in the areas thereof which contact the platform in interlocked condition, which holes are filled with adhesive.

5. A holder for knives, forks, spoons, and the like comprising a built-up structure having a platform formed with spaced slots intersecting an end thereof, a transverse series of spaced longitudinal members forming partitions and side walls and each having a slot intersecting an end thereof and registering with a platform slot so that the platform and the members are interlocked to form a plurality of chambers, the platform and the members being of substantially the same length, the slots of the members being shorter than the .platformV slots, and the sum of the lengths of two cooperating slots being less than the length of the platform or the members, whereby in interlocked condition the ends of the members opposite their slotted ends extend outwardly of the slotted end of the platform, and a transverse end board having a transverse series of spaced slots accommodating the extended member ends and a series of transversely aligned grooves accommodating the slotted ends of the platform, and means for interlocking the extended member portions with the end board.

6. A holder for knives, forks, spoons, and the like comprising a built-up structure having a platform formed with spaced slots intersecting an end thereof, a transverse series of spaced longitudinal members forming partitions Iand side walls and each having a slot intersecting an end thereof and registering with a platform slot so that the platform and the members are interlocked to form a plurality of chambers with the ends of the members opposite their slotted ends extending outwardly of the slotted end of the platform, and -a transverse end board having a transverse series of spaced slots accommodating the extended member ends and a series of transversely aligned grooves accommodating the slotted end of the platform, the extended member portions and the end board being formed with interlocking means.

THOMAS B. OWENS.

nrFERmvoEsv CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITEDA STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,418,324 OConnor June 6, 1922 2,279,864 Eide Apr. 14, 1942 2,366,677 Rosentha1 Jan. 2, 1945 

